Some RMSD problems answered, others persist

Editor's note: Eleven concerns involving Ruidoso schools were outlined to the district's education board last month. The critique, along with some recommended responses, was delivered by Matt Closs, who said he is a former education administrator. There were some responses from Ruidoso schools officials. The 11 primary concerns were district accreditation, test scores, principal evaluations, school board and district policies, drugs, students withdrawals, teachers leaving the district, the Gang Resistance Education and Training program, the district's superintendent's contract renewals, school board meetings, and the status of the superintendent. This is the final installment of three.

Contracts

Closs questioned the timing of the every other year February election for some school board seats and consideration of a contract for the district's superintendent.

He pointed specifically to early 2011, right as three new members were elected to the five-person board.

"I've been in your shoes," Closs told the board. "I've worshiped a superintendent that did a great job and then things went sour and went through basically what you all have been through."

Closs focused on the month gap between an early February election and the seating of those elected in March of 2011. The old board renewed Superintendent Bea Etta Harris' contract through the middle of 2013.

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"Where you can go out and renew somebody's contract, that has been disastrous here whether anyone else wants to admit that or recognize that. Is there any way that we could have a policy that prohibits that from happening again here? Because it has a catastrophic effect in this community."

School Board President Devin Marshall replied to Closs that the board can make policy.

"That's some good food for thought, about maybe regulating ourselves on dates," Marshall said.

But board member Kerry Gladden said the 2011 contract renewal followed past procedure.

"How that was done was by the timeline that has always been in the district. We weren't doing that like, 'Oh, let's.' We reviewed the superintendent in January and in February you either hire or rehire."

Closs responded that the superintendent's contract can be renewed in March or April.

"When a new school board's coming in, there's a reason for it," Closs said. "They've been elected for some reason. They're going to bring new eyes and new thoughts. So if we're renewing a superintendent's contract in February, we're ruling them (new board) out."

He said waiting until March to consider a contract renewal would have averted many of the problems that have occurred over the past 18 months.

"And you people could focus on test scores and accreditation and keeping kids from moving out of the school district.

"If there's one thing out of all this I wish you'd really take that into consideration because you three are going to be in that boat here next February. Whoever you get, running in there and extending their contract after these people have already been elected, is just wrong."

Harris situation

One of the big issues Closs and others have expressed over the past four months has been the placement of Harris on administrative pay with leave.

"Mrs. President (Marshall), I have been led to believe that you are real close to settling with Miss Harris and you are going to move on," Closs said. "And I understand that you can't divulge information and all that. Am I on the right track there? An agreement has been reached and we're waiting for the state to approve it?

Marshall affirmed that was correct.

As a result, Closs said he would not spend any time going over the situation.

"We've evaluated it to death. We spent 18 months of this board's time primarily on evaluating the superintendent."

Closs said he anticipated the district will begin a search for a new superintendent.

"Three out of the last four superintendents if we include Miss Harris have had their contracts bought out here. So if nothing else, that brings to light that for whatever reason we've had some problems."

Calling this past May "the darkest days," Closs noted Associate Superintendent Patty White was named interim superintendent when Harris was placed on leave. He told the board that White has done "a hell of a job" but can only do so much.

"So if this is going to be a long thing, take that into consideration."

GREAT program

Following an August presentation by the Ruidoso Police Department's school resource officer, Closs said the Gang Resistance Education and Training (GREAT) should be implemented in the middle school.

"He (School Resource Officer Sal Beltran) left here discouraged because the way the procedures are, nobody said this is great, let's do it."

Closs said a logical time frame should be scheduled for the program.

Ruidoso Middle School Principal George Heaton told Closs GREAT is ready.

"He (Beltran) talked to me last year. He's been doing it since last year when we first started talking about it," Heaton said.

Board member Gladden said the scheduling of the GREAT class was the issue discussed during the August meeting.

At the meeting, board member Rhonda Vincent recommended using an elective classes time instead of science classes.

But Beltran said not every student has the same electives but all seventh graders, where the program would initially be targeted, are required to take a science class. The GREAT presentations would cover a 13-week period.

"The timeframe, I think that's an administrative deal that Patty (White) and George (Heaton) and Sal will work out," Gladden said.

In the high school, Principal Pauline Staski said there is a policy in place to address gangs, gang-like behavior and violence.

Board meetings

While not verbally discussed at the last school board meeting, a memo of concerns compiled by Closs included a recommendation that the board convene twice a month, especially until the superintendent's position is resolved and the district attempts to return to a fully accredited status with North Central Association.

Three other suggestions asked that the meeting room be reconfigured to allow the superintendent's seat face the audience.

A desk in front of the board for guest speakers was asked for instead of a podium away from the board's desk.

And a public address system be installed so everyone can be heard and understood.